ReeferMac

Thanks for the thoughts and idea's everyone! Creek's too far away, but the mechanical motion idea made me think about one of those windmill's you see for sale at Rural King (that the missus said she likes)... I'm just moving water, Archimede's came up with a nifty idea a little while back that would work.... Man, now it's morphing into a science project, but I reckon I just blew my budget! LMAO!

Does anyone have experience working with small home-brew type solar/battery powered projects? I've got one coming down the pike at me, figured I'd ask here since we're such a swell group of people! My 12 year old son likes to fish, play in the creek that runs behind our property, have all sorts of good, clean fun. I'm quite happy to encourage this sort of activity. Last summer he took to catching some of the baby fish from the creek and keeping them in an old feed bucket up near our property.... But we had to harass him to eventually release the things, as they quickly outgrew the old feed-bucket! So long story short, Dad promised him a fish pond this year... Hole is (mostly) dug (I need a deal on a couple skids of stone delivered?), there will be a little creek and waterfall, maybe one day some (LED) lights, ergo, I need a pump, which needs juice! Running conduit/wire isn't going to happen, but I could drag a collection of extension cords out there once a week with a battery charger to top-off the system when sunlight won't. I'm envisioning one of those Harbor-Freight solar panels and an old car-battery (maybe two, I can easily swap, keep one on a charger in the shed, switch it out once a week?) Don't have a pump/flow characteristics... suppose I'm coming at that problem from the back-end - I'll size the flow/pump to match the power (realistically) available from the solar system? Cost is a factor (it's the wee one's play-place to grow bait... but the missus wants it to look like a water-feature/landscaped pond when it's done), I have some sunny locations within 50-feet of the pond I can mount some panels. A quick search shows a wealth of 12V pond pumps exist, but I don't know the what and where-for's of chargers/controllers and that end of things. Before I run down to the local China Mart and pickup some used car-batteries off Craigslist, does anyone here have experience with this sort of thing that could save me some headaches and $$$? LOL! In my head it's a simple project once you get passed the physical work. I'm good with the pond and the plumbing, but know nothing about solar setups. Thanks for the advice! - K

Thanks Guys!

Thanks guys! That stand is 'purty. The lube is more in my budget, unfortunately! I realize the shed is less than ideal, but I'm hoping I'm able to use it more, it just sits in the closet now, and worse, I don't have ammo to shoot! LOL! Thanks again.

Thanks guys! Trying to avoid insulating and heating it, LOL! I do have electric out there, so in a pinch I could throw a heater (on the OTHER side of the shed) to take the chill off. Mounting the press to a board was my answer to the portable thing... But I just don't do it (takes 20 minutes to set the thing up, wife complains about the kitchen table, 15 minutes to break it down... I get 12 rounds made in an hour, LOL!) If I had it setup somewhere semi-permanent, I'd size and clean a bunch of brass in a bucket, then prime and load as time allows... or so the theory goes! Thanks again! -K

So my indoor reloading location isn't ready yet, it's going to be a while. My Daughter's only a freshman in HS, so at least a couple years before she moves out. We have a shed outside, with a sturdy workbench I could mount my press to permanently (Rockchucker single stage). If I kept the powder, primers, etc. indoors, and left the brass, bullets, dies, etc. outside (in a sealed container), would that be a suitable reloading location? I realize it's not ideal, but right now the press is attached to a board I clamp to the kitchen table.... and hardly ever do so as a result. I'm just wondering what negative effects the temperature fluctuations and humidity might have? The shed is vented to outside air, so will equalize with the ambient conditions. Would be interested in hearing your thoughts. Thanks.

I wanna hear the "how I lost my fingertip" part of this story ..

Thanks for the suggestions.... there was a TGO branded T-shirt printed a couple years ago. Kicking myself for only getting one... I like the TGO design and want to support the board, too (heard they got a small break on orders). Thanks. - K

Would love to see a re-print of the "What part of 'shall not be infringed' don't you understand" t-shirts.... Especially given the election cycle coming up. I absolutely love wearing mine out in public. I'd buy 2 for myself right now (and probably a 3rd for a friend!) Thanks. - Kevin

LMAO @TripleGGG.... I understand OPSEC, but could you narrow down the West Knox part? I'm a little west of you and we have coyote around, too. Fortunately I already talked to TWRA, and if its harassing my family, pets, or livestock, the 2 gentlemen who cover Roane county said Im free to do whatever whenever... I've seen one here repeatedly, lost 4 chickens this year (cost of free ranging). I agree with the airsoft idea, or msybe a supressed .22? I mean, folks here are really good at helping one buy toys! LOL! If population is that dense, I'm surprised the coyote is so bold... THAT would make me nervous. Mine is very shy. Interested to see how this pans out? I have a friend who traps, I reached out and will let you know if he is interested.

Thanks everyone. I have a couple on the edge of an area we cleared for pasture, and they just look burned up... yellow leaves year round, first to turn brown and drop. I'll keep an eye on them and hopefully they'll adjust (though it's been a few years). Most of the one's I've seen deeper in the woods by me are smaller tree's surrounding a larger specimen (those 30-40 footers). Probably root propagation then. There are several stands however, and I've seen some fruit, so there must be a couple... I think I might try to dig a few out and transplant them up near the edge of the pasture to see if I can get them to adapt? Thanks again for the info and discourse! - Kevin

Finally found a fresh one and was able to try it... interesting taste and texture. I could see mashing a bunch up and using it to make a bread or some other cooked dish. They're not going to replace my Oreo's, though. Thanks. - K

LOL! Yes, I did read it. Just never seen one growing in full sun before. Shrug, I tend to be skeptical to begin with.... especially with things I read on the internet. It's possible we're talking about different varieties? Perhaps they have a commercial cultivar that they have bred to tolerate full sun over the generations? Every one I've ever come across in person, was buried in the back of the woods under heavy under-story. Most of what I've read on wild varieties is similar. The only places I've seen full-sun mentioned, is places that sell it. Perhaps these are 2 different tree's? Thanks.

Interesting, thanks for sharing @Omega! I've had a hard time getting a lot of things to grow in the native soil around here..... compressed clay! LOL @ E4 No More, I hear ya... But remember, Burpee makes money selling you seeds.... The hundreds that sprouted on my property via mother nature are all under heavy under-story. I've read that you can sprout them in shade and gradually move them to sun, but from what I've heard they are rather sensitive plants, and not very adaptable. .... Which is odd, really, when you think about plant biology... they need the sunlight to make the sugars (that they use for energy and store in their fruit). So if the plant is in an environment with a minimum of lighting, how does it make a sweet-tasting tropical fruit? Neat stuff! - K

Amen to both comments! (And it's the opening credits, not the closing) ((The rest of the people in this thread are thinking WTF are they talking about Meese for?)) You're right, it's been a while. Kids love that one, too.... I smell an Amazon purchase.... my credit card's getting all tingly. - K

Paw Paws are a shade-loving tree, I don't think they do well in full sun. That's why I was worried about trimming back some of the surrounding shade tree's around the patch I found. I don't want to burn/kill them in an attempt to get more fruit from them. Thanks. - K

Thanks martin5, I figured @Highwalker would chime in when he gets back from his hike in the woods! ... I've taken his class, twice! Excellent opportunity and a great guy... Amazing that it's just there free for anyone willing to take a few hours on Saturday. Do a search for the seeds @Omega, there are several sources available. Was looking at the one's for sale over here: https://www.rareseeds.com/pawpaw-premium-giant-mix/ and considering order some for myself, as I usually get a passel of packets from them every Spring.... didn't want to wait 7 years for it to grow, LOL! Guess I got lucky finding them. I believe the seeds are sensitive to moisture, and need to be stratified to grow. Growing-guides I've read suggest just burying the fruit whole in the fall. I've got gaggles of the little one's sprouting all around, if you ever get out near Knox-town, bring a shovel and let me know.... Thanks! - K

Found a patch of Paw Paws in the back corner of the property today. A few even had some fruit. Were still hard and green, so I left them alone and made a note to come back and check them every few days until ripe. I've never had them before, but was looking into getting some seed's to try growing some! Guess I know where the right conditions are.... Some of these specimens were really old. Easily 30+ feet tall, 6-inch caliper trunk or greater. Lots of little one's in the under story I thought of trying to transplant.... ... If I wanted to make conditions better for these tree's (aka make them fruit more), what should I do? I know they need shady conditions, but are heavily crowded. Would I be amiss to try thinning the nearby stuff out? Fertilize a little in the spring? Any other suggestions? Thanks. - K

Thanks Pop Pop... dunno when I'll get out to see him again, but it does seem to come up every now and again. I get that way for work once a year or so, but it's usually in and out for a training event or something @ Corp. office by the airport. I'll keep it in mind! -Kevin

LOL! I was quoted $500 for a tri-axle of Crusher run from just about everybody. Usually around $17/ton depending on the quarry, 100 bucks to haul it. I bet if you fire up the grill and invite a few TGO'ers to ummm, test the backstop, they'll get a picture posted for you!

Cainsville Pike? Only been out there a few times, but I knew him back when we were Yankee's! He moved down here for all the usual reasons and to be near his Mom. Took me a few years, but I saw the light, too, and ended up over here! We still get together about once a year. - K

I'm with BHunted... Pics or it didn't happen! LOL! Actually have a good friend who moved to Lascassas a short while before I moved down here. - K

This was the harvest from an area about 10x15? The bucket is actually mostly fingerlings, just the red's were at the end of the row, lol, so they ended up on top. - K

Thanks for the idea's everyone!

I've been having a lot of luck with taters in my garden since moving here. Get 3 crops per year by staggering the planting. Last one I plant in the fall and just leave in the ground until I need them (dig them up a little at a time over the winter). By spring that section is all turned over and ready to be tilled and planted in the spring, LOL! Have had best luck with fingerlings and red potatoes. Like you, it started with some in the bottom of the box that sprouted in the pantry....